Mastering Mapwork
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Unlike most map skills IT products currently available, Mastering Mapwork does not assume users possess the ability to read maps. Mastering Mapwork teaches that! The six key modules each consist of an introductory tutorial followed by tasks where the student can practice and consolidate the skills learned and test their results against previous attempts and other users. The variety of approaches has resulted in 21 totally different components (tasks) each with its own style and learning objective and these build to ensure a thorough understanding of map and map skills. The six key modules are:
Shaping Up to Symbols - Fifty-six Ordnance Survey 1:50 000 map symbols are displayed together with their captions. However, the captions and symbols are mixed up and the user must 'drag & drop' the captions to the correct symbol. The quiz is timed, number of moves counted and success rate advised when exiting the task.
Direction and Distance - The Direction activities include "a walk" around a virtual village and navigating a boat race by clicking the directions on a compass. Things then become more challenging when we get to another boat race where the pupil must navigate without a compass. Learning has never been more fun. The Distance tasks feature a "magic tape" ruler which is used in various ways to allow measurement. The "walk" featured earlier utilises the "magic tape", as does the challenging Raft Race task which draws together all that was learned in this module to an exciting conclusion.
Cracking Contours - This module contains six tasks each illustrating various aspects of height and shape of landforms on maps. One task displays photographs of 12 landform types along with a corresponding contour map and cross-section illustration. Another activity involves helping the user to draw contour maps with cross-sections using spot heights. Hard copies of the student's work can be printed out. The modules closes with a comprehensive quiz featuring the 'drag & drop' techniques where students are asked to match descriptions of land features to the correct map representations. The quiz is timed, moves counted and results advised.
Grid References - Both four and six-figure references are covered here and involve tasks such as dragging symbols from a key onto the map in order to place them at a requested grid reference. Conversely, another task requires the user to identify the correct grid reference for a number of symbols which are already placed on a map.
Map Master - This comprehensive map drawing application brings together all the components covered in the previous 4 modules. It allows the creation of quite sophisticated Ordnance Survey style maps using the bank of symbols from the first module together with robust drawing facilities. A full range of system fonts is available for labelling. Symbols and labels can be accurately placed and fine tuned with a handy 'nudge' facility. All maps can be laser printed or saved to disk for later use or modification.
Mapwork Bingo - A new interactive learning tool that uses the traditional Bingo format but substitutes Ordnance Survey symbols for numbers. With two levels of difficulty and the option for solo or group games this feature is guaranteed to brighten up any Mapwork session.
There is also a Glossary of Terms module which contains a detailed description for all terminology used throughout the software. Need reminding what a 'concave slope' is? Click on the glossary icon (accessible from every screen in the software) and you will have the answer.
PC only Windows 95 or later. Primary & Secondary Levels   |
Tel: 0870 513 3168 Fax: 0870 120 0006 (outside UK: +44 1837 810 831)
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